Anyone who has watched Test cricket must surely have wondered what exactly cricketers do during those signature Lunch and Tea breaks. Or more specifically, what they eat and drink.
It is only natural to be intrigued by such questions. After all, Test cricket is the only mainstream sport that is spread over a sum total of five days, whilst offering well-planned breaks in between.
The comments of a few Quora users shed light on our questions.
The breakfast, usually said to be the most important meal of the day, is had before the start of the day’s play and might include sandwiches, “cold meats, jam and peanut butter”, among other things.
Subsequently, the lunch break – which comes two hours into the day’s play – would have sandwiches, salads, pasta, fruits and meat, going by the responses of the Quora users. The basic idea is for the cricketers to eat food that is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and proteins, but not in fats.
Apparently, cricketers can utilise the break for a bath and a change of clothes.
Interestingly, a magazine account cited by a Quora user describes how, contrary to popular perceptions, the tradition of the Tea break in Test cricket was an Australian import, rather than an English one. And in the early days, the “refreshments were brought out on to the field” in England.
Moreover, the account details how the Tea break has become a very revered tradition in Test cricket, with cricketers suggesting an extension of its duration.
In terms of the spread, a Tea break would comprise the usual tea, coffee and sandwiches, along with energy drinks. Once again, the players consume items rich in carbohydrates and proteins for enhanced performance, choosing to stay away from fatty foods that would make them sloppy and slow.
Interestingly, a Quora user points out that once the day’s play ends, it is very important for a player to have a meal within the first one hour. The meal, he says, should be rich in carbohydrates and also re-hydrate the player so as to replenish his/her lost energy during the game. The ideal items for that meal include sandwiches, yoghurt, cereal bars, water, fruit juice and energy drinks.
Players get a variety of options of what to eat when they return to the dressing room for lunch. What a player eats, depends on his personal preference, and also whether or not he has to take the field in the next session. The batsmen who are going out to bat would generally just have a protein bar or a banana or some other fruit because a stomach filled with food won’t help them on the field. Everything they eat is low on fat and high on carbohydrates.Former cricketer Nayan Mongia to ScoopWhoop
Naturally, the food requirements of international-level Test cricketers are taken care of by reputed chefs and dieticians, to ensure that their performance is consistent and optimal. The food options also vary from country to country, and are sometimes even tailored to the preferences of the sportsperson.
Now one cannot underestimate the importance of these traditional breaks. After all, they can be the make or break factor which decide the players’ performance and subsequently the result of the game.
Do you really want to imagine how disastrous a meal of butter chicken and rice might be for a player’s performance on the field?
(Source: ScoopWhoop)
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